Lock-on hair curler



Sept. 10, 1963 R. TRABISH LOCK-0N HAIR 011111.53

Filed Feb. 20. 1961 R... a m m m 0 Mn J a .0 N

United States Patent 3,103,223 LOCK-0N HAIR CURLER Robert Trabish,Memphis, Tenn, assignor to Gaylord Products, Incorporated, Chicago,III., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,512 2Claims. (Cl. 132-41) This invention relates to hair curlers in general,but is concerned more particularly with hair curlers which are heldinplace to permit the hair to set before the curlers are removed, andits principal object is to provide a new and improved hair curler ofsimple and practical construction which is readily locked into placeupon application and which remains securely locked until removal thereofis desired, whereupon the curler is readily unlocked and removed.

In one common use of hair curlers, the hair is first combed and parted,usually after being moistened with a suitable moistening agent toenhance the retention of the curl after the curler is removed. Thecurlers are then applied one at a time, each to a separate tress,strand, bundle, or lock of hair. The application of a curler to a lockor strand of hair begins at the end of the strand, with the curlercommonly having a slot or opening to retain the end of the strand instarting position. Following attachment of the end of the strand of hairto the curler, the curler is rotated or rolled to wrap or wind thestrand or bundle of hair more or less tightly around it in a roll whichis completed when the curler approaches the scalp. Then, a fasteningdevice is applied to hold the curler in its rolled up position in thehair. This fastening device is commonly a hair pin such as thewell-known bobby pin. This hair pin is placed in hastening position withone arm of the pin engaging the roll of hair or the curler, and theother arm of the bobby pin engaging the outside of the strand of hairnear the scalp, to hold the roll of hair in contact with the haircurler.

After the remaining curlers have been similarly applied and fastened,they are all left in place for the desired curl-setting period. Then,each is removed by removing the fastening device therefrom to permit thecurler to partly unwind and come free from the hair.

An outstanding disadvantage of the foregoing procedure in applying andholding hair curlers is the necessity for employing a separate claspdevice for each applied curler. These clasp devices not only tend tobecome scattered and lost, but the handling thereof is tedious andtime-consuming, not only when the clasps are applied to the rolled-upcurlers, but also when the hair curlers are being removed, at which timethe clasps must be sorted and placed in a receptacle separate from thatof the curlers, so as to prepare the equipment for the next use thereof.

According to the invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages ofhair curlers .as previously used are overcome by providing a new andimproved hair curler construction wherein each air curler has claspstructure incorporated therein which is retained in an ineffective openposition while the hair curler is being applied and is readily movableto a closed locked position on the hair curler when the curler has beenapplied. The improved lock-on hair curler leaves both hands of theoperator free to hold the curler and the hair as desired during theapplication of the curler. Then one hand is used to move the curler toits closed locked position.

The above-mentioned and other objects and features of this invention,and the manner of obtaining them, will become more apparent, and theinvention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription of "ice the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, comprising FIGS. 1 to 12, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly broken away, of the curler in closed lockposition but without a strand or bundle of hair wound thereon;

FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 with the curler in its normal openor applying position;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are respectively a left-end view, a side View, and aright-end view of the inner body member B of the structure of FIGS. 1and 2;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are respectively a left-end View, a side view, and aright-end view of outer body member A of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is a right-end View of the assembled curler in open positiontaken along line 99 of FIG. 2, showing a starting step in the operationof applying the curler to a strand of hair to be curled;

FIG. 10 is a further view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the strand ofhair pulled to a preferred starting position from which the rolling ofthe strand onto the curler is begun;

FIG. 11 is a further view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10, but showing theassembly after the strand ofhair of FIGS. 9 and 10 has been woundthereon and the assembly has been locked in wound position; and

"FIG. 12 is a side View of the structure in the wound and lockedposition of FIG. 11.

Referring first particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show respectivelythe collapsed locked position and the open starting position of thecurling assembly, the genenally cylindrical outer body member of thecurler assembly is shown at A. Outer member A telescopingly receives thecylindrical inner body member B to which the clasp or locking members Care attached for longitudinal movement with respect to member A.

Preferably, members A and B are of molded plastic construction and areof such relative sizes that member B telescopes with member A with acomparatively slight clearance which is sufiicient to permit a freesliding relationship. By way of example, cylindrical member A may havean outside diameter of one inch, a length of three inches, and a wallthickness of .050 inch. Member B comprises annular head portion 21 andcylindrical inner body portion 20*, which may have an outside diameterof 78 inch and a wall thickness and length as indicated for member A. Inthis illustrative size, the curler is adapted for curling the principallocks or strands of a head of hair. A smaller sized curler of similarconstruction may be employed for curling shorter strands, such as thosesometimes found at the nape of the neck.

As is clear from an inspection of FIGS. 1, 2, 6 to 8, and 12, outerhollow cylindrical body member A is squarely terminated at its rear endto permit square contact with head 21 of member B in the closed positionof FIGS. 1 and 12, While the front end portion of member A is shaped andslotted to facilitate the starting attachment (FIGS. 9 and 10) of astrand 39' of hair to be wound upon the curling structure. In theillustrative embodiment, there are four equally spaced longitudinalslots 2 into the front and intermediate portion of member A, dividingthat portion into four similar sections 4. Each inter-slot segment 4 istapered to a point 5, providing four tapered entrance zones 3 to therespective slots 2. The segment 4 which is shown in full view in FIGS. 1and 2 has the illustrated long guide slot 9 through the side wallthereof to cooperate with its associated short and rounded guide andstop lug 30, carried on the corresponding segment 24 of member B. In thefully closed locked position of FIGS. 1 and 12, the guide and stop lug30 is near the front end of slot 9 (in member A), while lug 30 is at therear end of slot 9 in the fully extended open position of FIG. 2,serving in that position to establish a limit of the opening movement ofthe curler assembly. By the slot 9 and cooperating lug 36, the members Aand B are moreover prevented from rotating substantially relative toeach other, thereby limiting their relative movement to a telescopingmovement between the two positions discussed above.

Preferably, the opposed quadrant 4 of curler A has a similar slot 9 (notshown) to receive a second guide and stop lug 30- carried by member B asseen in FIG. 5.

As seen best in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 12, there are four longitudinalfasteneraguide slots 10 out or molded into the rear end portion ofmember A, with the closed end of each guide slot 11} merging with atapered cam portion 11. Cam 11 facilitates outward camming movement ofthe outer arms 33 of clasp members C upon the telescoping movement ofthe structure from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 1 or12.

The hollow cylindrical inner body member B comprises the cylindricalportion 211 and the annular head portion 21 fixed therewith. As seenbest in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, portion 20 of member B is divided intofour segments 24 by the four slots 22 which correspond respectively tosegments 4 and slots 2 in member A, with segments 24 tapering to points25 to leave widened entrance portions 23 which merge with slots 22 asexplained for entrance portions 3 and slots 2. of member A. In theclosed position shown in FlGS. 1 and 12, the segments 24 of member B areradially aligned with and respectively underlie the segments 4 of memberA, slots 2 and 212 being radially aligned as seen in FIGS. 9 to 11.

Member B carries four clasps C, aligned centrally with the fourquadrants 24 of member B and the four quadrants 4 of member A. Eachclasp C is in the form of a hairpin, being illustrated more particularlyas comprising an ordinary commercially available bobby pin, commonlycomprising a formed spring steel core covered with a suitable protectingplastic or baked-on-enamel coating. Each clasp C has a pair of generallysimilar arms comprising an inner arm (not shown in side view) inside ofmember B and an outer arm 33 which terminates in the outwardly inclinedend portion 3 4, seen best in FIGS. 1 and 4. The inner arm of C may besimilar to the illustrated corrugated outer arm 33 except that itusually has a straight end portion rather than the illustratedout-turned angular portion 34 of outer arm 33. Each of the four membersC is assembled with member B by insertion through a separate roundopening 31. Any opening 31 may be drilled or molded into the body B or"a size somewhat larger in diameter than the width of the clasp member C,and is preferably inclined inwardly and forwardly at an angle of about45 as is shown in cross section in FIG. 4 tor one hole 31. Whenassembling any member C with body member B, the described inner arm ofthe member C is inserted into its opening 31 at about the 45 angleindicated at the top in FIG. 4. Then, the member C is pushed forwardlyand inwardly at about that angle until its inner arm fully enters memberB to reach the fully installed position shown in side view in FIGS. 1,2, and 4 and in end view in FIGS. and 9 to 11.

With the four clasp members C assembled with member B to provide thesubassembly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, member B is next brought into anassembled position as shown best in FIG. 2. For this purpose, theforward end portions of the four segments 24 of member B are telescopedwith the base portion of member A, with the small rounded guide lugs 3dof member B aligned with the respective slots 9 of member A. When themembers 30 encounter the end of member A, the two segments 24 of B whichcarry them tare flexed inwardly sumciently to allow members 30 to passwithin member A. Then, when the member B is telesooped further intomember A .to reach the position shown in FIG. 2, the inwardly flexedsegments 24 of B snap outwardly to bring the members 31} within theirrespective slots in member A. As this assembly operation is beingperformed, the outer arms 33 of clasps C are aligned with the rear slotsin member A and they enter these slots as shown in FIG. 2, keeping theclasps C in alignment in the open position of FIG. 2.

In the intended use of the curler assembly, starting with the describedopen position thereof shown best in FIG. 2, the end portion of any lockor strand 3 9 of the head of hair to be curled is brought across theopen end of member A as by grasping the strand 39 at end 41) thereof andpushing the member A crosswise of the strand until the strand is forcedto enter opposed slots 2 of member A which are so dimensioned as to gripthe strand 39 and to flatten it somewhat preparatory to rolling. Thispreparatory position is best illustrated in FIG. 9.

Next, the strand 39 is preferably pulled forwardly to free it from theslot 111 shown to the right in FIGS. 9 and 10, to leave the end 449 ofthe strand within the hollow interior of the assembly in about theposition shown in FIG. 10, wherein the strand 39 is held in a singleslot 11), to the left.

Next, the open assembly is rolled from its position indicated in FIG. 10to wind the strand 39 around outer body member A until that strand issubstantimly completely wound on the curler assembly into the roll 41shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Then, while member A (with the roll 41thereon) is held in one hand, member B is grasped by its rim 2 1 and istelescoped therewith from an open position according to FIG. 2 to theclosed locking position of FIGS. 11 and 12. As member B is thus pushedinto member A from the open position of FIG. 2, outer arms 33 of claspsC slide within the slots ill of member A until they reach and engage theoutwardly sloping end portions 11 thereof. By the cooperation of slopedends 34 and cam portions 11, arms 33 are lifted outwardly to the outersurface of member A. At about tlllS time, or shortly thereafter, theoutwardly directed end portions 34 of spring arms 33 may begin toencounter the roll 41 (FIGS. 11 and 12) around member A, whereupon theyare thereby cammed outwardly against their inward spring tension toencompass the roll 41 as the telescoping movement continues, culminatingfinally in roll 41 being encompassed by the four outer arms 33 when thefully locked position of FIGS. 11 and 12 is reached. As seen in FIG. 11,the four clasps C grasp the outside of the roll 41 near the terminalpoint thereof, thereby positively preventing unwinding of the roll.

Openings 8 of member A align with openings 28 of member B in the closedposition of FIGS. 1 and 12 (such openings not shown in FIG. *12) toprovide vent passages to promote circulation as an aid to drying ofwrapped hair.

It vw'll be understood, of course, that the structure disclosed is moreor less useful with only a single clasp C installed, but all four claspsC are preferred because, since the clasps are only apart, one or theother of them is always in a posit-ion to grasp and hold the roll 41near the outer termination thereof. Of course, three equally spacedclasps C might provide a workable modification, although the fourillustrated clasps C are preferred. A further modified construction hasbeen considered wherein six equally spaced clasps C may be provided,which is about the maximum that is presently considered advisable forthe intended purpose.

Some operators may prefer not to use the slots 2 to start a rollaccording to FIG. 10, preferring instead to lay the end portion of thestrand 39 across the member A and hold it in position by hand until thefirst turn has been completed, to thereby hold the end portion of thestrand in place. For such operators, the slots 2 and 22., together withentrance portions 3 and 23 may be omitted, leaving the trout portion ofparts A and B unslotted.

After all of the curlers required for the head of hair have beeninstalled as described, and after the setting time has elapsed, thecurlers are removed. To remove any disclosed curler, portion A, with theroll 41 thereon, may be grasped in one hand, and portion B may begrasped in the other hand, through its rim member 21, and is pulled outto the open position of FIG. 2, wherein stops 30 end the pull-aparttelescoping movement by engaging the inner end of their respective slots9. By this opening unlocking movement, the tclasps C are completelydisengaged from the roll 41, whereupon the roll may be more or lessunwound to permit the curler assembly to be removed and placed in asuitable receptacle for the next required use thereof.

With the body portions A and B both made of plastic, and with the claspsC provided with a protective coating as described, the lock-on curlersare not aifected by any permanent-wave solution nor by any curl-settingsolution commonly employed, whereby the improved lock-on curlers may beused either as a part of a permanent-wave imparting process or ascurlers for use apart therefrom. Moreover, the curlers may be used ondry hair as well as on wet hair.

The inward tension of the arms of clasps C, while ample for thedescribed lock-on purpose, is preferably insufficient to materiallycompress a roll of hair encompassed by the clasps, whereby clasp marksare not made in the hair as is sometimes done by relatively strongrubber bands.

While it has been herein described that the clasps are each cammedoutwardly to completely encompass the outside of the roll 41 of FIGS. 11and 12, the locking action described is still effective when the arms 33and tips 34 pass more or less through the outermost layer of the rollrather than carnming completely outwardly as described. Moreover, eventhough, by accident or intentionally, the width of the roll is caused tobe nearly the length of member A, as to the roll width indicated by leftand night dotted lines 42 and 43' of FIG. 12, the locking action isstill effective because of the intermediate portion of the outside layerof the roll 41 being more or less encompassed by the arms 36 of theclasps C.

While I have described above the principles of my invention inconnection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood thatthis description is made only by way of example and not as a limitationto the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A lock-on hair curler assembly comprising an outer and an inner bodymember telescopingly related to each other for a telescoping movement ofthe inner body member within the outer one between an open position anda closed position of the assembly, the outer body member being adaptedto have a strand of hair wound into a roll therearound, a series ofclasp members alfixed to and carried by the inner body member and spacedaround the periphery thereof, each clasp member including a spring armextending axially toward the outer body member and ending short of asaid wound roll when the inner body member is in said open position andto extend beyond the wound roll when the inner body member is in saidclosed position, and means for camming the said spring arm of each saidclasp member outwardly into an inwardly pressing contacting relationshipwith the wound roll as said inner member is telescoped into its closedposition, whereby the said wound roll is locked on the assembly, whereinthe said outer body member has a longitudinal closed guide slot throughan intermediate portion of the side wall thereof, and a rounded guidemember fixed with said inner body member and extending into the guideslot, the guide member being at one end of the slot or the otherdepending upon whether the assembly is in said open or is in said closedposition.

2. A lock-on hair-curler assembly comprising an outer and an innercylindrical body member telescopingly related to each other, guide meansfor preventing relative rotation of the body members while permittingmovement of the inner body member within the outer one between anextended strand-winding position and a closed lock position of theassembly, the inner body member having an outwardly flared rim at itsrear end to facilitate grasping it to move it from either said positionto the other, said guide means including means for stopping the innerbody member from moving beyond either of said positions, the outer bodymember being adapted by a series of open outwardly flared longitudinalslots to receive and grip the end portion of a strand of hair in anydesired slot to facilitate winding the strand into a roll around theouter body member, a series of clasp members affixed to and carried bythe inner body member and spaced around the periphery thereof, eachclasp member including a spring arm extending axially toward the outerbody memberand ending short of a said Wound roll when the inner bodymember is in said open position and to extend beyond the wound roll whenthe inner body member is in said closed lock position, and means forcamrning the said spring arm of each said clasp member outwardly into aninwardly pressing contacting relationship with the wound roll as thesaid inner body member is telescoped into said closed locked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,102,286 Schmitt July 12, 1935 2,058,400 Bchr OCL. 27, 1936 2,162,262Linden 111116 13, 1939 2,570,206 Carper Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS132,588 Sweden Aug. 7, 1951

1. A LOCK-ON HAIR CURLER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN OUTER AND AN INNER BODYMEMBER TELESCOPINGLY RELATED TO EACH OTHER FOR A TELESCOPING MOVEMENT OFTHE INNER BODY MEMBER WITHIN THE OUTER ONE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION ANDA CLOSED POSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE OUTER BODY MEMBER BEING ADAPTEDTO HAVE A STRAND OF HAIR WOUND INTO A ROLL THEREAROUND, A SERIES OFCLASP MEMBERS AFFIXED TO AND CARRIED BY THE INNER BODY MEMBER AND SPACEDAROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, EACH CLASP MEMBER INCLUDING A SPRING ARMEXTENDING AXIALLY TOWARD THE OUTER BODY MEMBER AND ENDING SHORT OF ASAID WOUND ROLL WHEN THE INNER BODY MEMBER IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION ANDTO EXTEND BEYOND THE WOUND ROLL WHEN THE INNER BODY MEMBER IS IN SAIDCLOSED POSITION, AND MEANS FOR CAMMING THE SAID SPRING ARM OF EACH SAIDCLASP MEMBER OUTWARDLY INTO AN INWARDLY PRESSING CONTACTING RELATIONSHIPWITH THE WOUND